Sister’s spree with brother’s cheques

A sister who continued to spend her brother’s cash after he cancelled power of attorney may face jail.

Fiona Alexis, 43, of Lower Earley, encouraged her brother Brian Dare to grant her power of attorney after he was hospitalised with chronic depression in 2005, claiming vets’ bills desperately needed to be paid, Reading Magistrates Court heard.

He became concerned she was spending too much cash and cancelled the power she had over his funds – but she ignored this.

She continued to write cheques in his name, racking up nearly £1,000 worth of illegal bills at a supermarket, spending on PlayStation games and groceries, said Claire Beards, prosecuting.

At Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday this week Alexis admitted four counts of obtaining property by deception.

She changed her plea at the 11th hour, meaning an arranged two-day trial was abandoned. A charge of theft – in relation to a chequebook she was accused of stealing from Mr Dare – was dropped.

Miss Beards said: “On the 13th of July 2005 Brian Dare signed Power of Attorney over to the defendant.

“He had chronic depression. She played on his emotions saying vet bills needed to be paid.”

The court heard Alexis’s brother cancelled power of attorney on September 17, 2005.

Referring to Mr Dare, she continued: “On checking his house he discovered a cheque book was missing.”

Between August 30, 2006, and September 2, 2006, Alexis cashed cheques from the missing book at Asda in Chalfont Close, Lower Earley, she said.

On August 30, 2006, she spent almost £210 on a Playstation, paying with a cheque belonging to Mr Dare.

She returned the same day to give back the games console. The shop assistant said a refund could only be made on her debit card. She left the shop but did not come back, the court was told.

The next day, Alexis, of Alder Close, shelled out nearly £156 on two PlayStation games and groceries using one of Mr Dare’s cheques. She wrote a non-existent address on the back of the cheque.

Later on that day she bought four more PlayStation games, again using one of her brother’s cheques and a fake address.

On September 2, 2006, she attempted to buy cigarettes worth £15 using a faulty cheque, but was thwarted in her efforts, Miss Beards said.

A sales assistant had become suspicious after seeing the name Dare – having been informed by the Asda finance department that cheques cashed previously in this name had not cleared.

Alexis was initially cautioned, Miss Beards said. The court heard she later she told a police officer: “I’m not going to f***ing help you.” She also claimed she still had power of attorney.

Paul Gilmartin, defending, said he would not comment on the case until Alexis was sentenced. But he said: “I am not accepting at this stage that there was a breach of trust.”

Alexis was released on unconditional bail to reappear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 16, for sentencing. Magistrates warned her she could face prison.